The Press., 1887-03-17
ISsuGiETGrY Thursday Evening.
LOCAL TOPICS -PENN'D AND sCIssORED
ABOUT THE BRooKs FAMILY.

ABOUT THE BROOKS FAMILY.
 We have been interested in hearing mar. ratives of personal family history by James F. Brooks of Stafford, which we have per. mission to put iu print The grandfather of MT. Brooks, Edward, came to Nova Scotia from England in 1740, his eldest son, Edward, being born on the voyage. In l760 he removed with his family to the states, in anticipation of the revolution, in which he decided to take hand, his sym pathies being with the colonists. Him. self and four sons-all that were old enough-enlisted. The father was early in the war, while a little way out of camp, near Albany, assailed by two Indians, who approached him from behind, and gave the first token of their presence in the form of blow with hatchet, which sev- cred the bones of his left shoulder, but left him vitality enough to slay both of the Indians with his sabre, yielded with his good right arm. He was in fair way of recovery from his wounds, when camp fever set in, resulting fatally. The sons all lived through the war, Sylvanus, how ever, having thigh broken by cannon ball, crippling him for life. At the clos,. of the war Edward, the eldest son, settled Au AOAA0hds ALC Ac oCoCI1Otu h6 U I0Ah O1 remarkable statue and strength, weighing 280lbs, though not fe>hy and strong in pro portion. It was said that he could extend his arms with sixty pound weight hang ing upon each little finger. Once while in service he was riding past group of wrestlers ill camp, and overheard one of the group say that he could throw any man that God Almighty had ever made After riding a short distance he was im- pelled to turn back and to inquire of. this man if he had made the remark. The re- ply was a profane reiteration of the re- mark, with challenge that Brooks prompt ly accepted by catching hold of the bully and swinging him ill all directions, not permitting hls feet to touch the ground until he had declared himself satisfied, when he was laid upon his back, and his subduer rode away.
 Once, while detailed to guard some stores, he saw approaching two red coats. He leveled his gun at them, but it seemed hard to shoot in cold blood, so stepping into a corper within reach of where they must pass, he seized one with each hand, and, after humping their heads we'll to- gether, secured them as prisoners.
 Asa, the father of James F.. was born early in the revolution, and in 1894 he re- moved from Brookfeld to Stafford.
 James F., our informant, who was born in 1872, tells of gathering of his uncles at his fathers house in 1877, the four revolu- tienary veterans being of the number. The evening was spent largely in relating incidents of camp life, few of which we give:
 One of the brothers told of being at an outpost, near Albany, on the Hudson. On the opposide side was tavern kept by a tory. From the position on the river the Americans saw party of relocated off cers arrive at the tavern one day, and were especially interested in seeing that the old oven which was buift apart from the house, as was then the custom, was made ready, and filled with edibles for eookng Confined as they were to scant and very or dinary fare, the idea at once suggested it. self to the Yankees that the oven and contents were worth capturing. Ac- cordlngly they procured boat and quiet ly crossed. The oven was built of mortar and stones upon platform of plank and supported by four posts. Two poles were passed under it and oven and contents car ried to the boat and start made for the opposite shore, when an outcry proclaim ed the discovery of the theft, and the
 
 tol practice on the retiring craft. A sud den rush of all hands to get on the side, of the oven fartherest from the shore, so tilted the craft that the oven and con tents went overheard All hands escaped safely, but their feelings were expressed in rueful remark made by one, "Well, we got nothing out of that, did wei" "No, said another, consolingly, "nor the red coats didn't, either" But at night they took novel revenge. Crossing the river again they took heavy ox-cart and drawing it up steep hillside against which the tavern stood, they loaded it with stones and sent it down the hill. A slight obstruction caused the cart to bound just before reaching the low-roofed structure, and 1t landed squarely upon thereof, thro' which 1t crashed. The startled occupants, among whom were the red coats, ran out in dishabille, and the officers were greeted with haunting invitations to come up the hillside and have an interview with their tormentors. They didn't go.
 Another incident, in which one of the brothers had part, was in passing the house of a way tavern keeper, VI ho refused to allow the party to drink from his we'll, or to sell them rum. In looking about curious eyes rested on several fat sheep iu the barn. At night the party, with re. inforcements, went back to the place aud managed to get one of the mans oxen into a newly dug cellar hole, from which he could not get out without help, after which they kindly notified the owner, and DOT tion of the party went with the tavern keeper and his family to assist in getting him out. This gave another party a clear chance at the sheep. The helpers at the pit managed to make the job last until they had been signaled that the pur- pose of their confederates was accomplish ed. The OK rescued, his grateful owner then opened his bar to the helpers, who partook freely, and then went off to feast on the mutton, which the owner did not miss until the next day.
 Not a pleasant experience was another raid upon tory farmer who was known to have killed hogs one day. The visitors who went by night to secure some of the meat were unable to find any, but finally saw through a window of the kitchen an object lying upon a table. done up in a cloth. Of course there was but one thing to do, and an entrance was made, but the noise awoke the household, and the plum derers had to make lively time for camp, repching which, to prevent any later dis pleasure of their captain, he was invited to come and inspect the plunder prepara-